Back from the vet !

[Ginger]

I'm back from my visit with Kiwi at the vet.

I actually fell like this : :angry:

First, my appointment was at 9h15 and they pass me at 10h00 (they open at 9h) !!!

All the visit last almost 20 minutes. I bring them poo to analyze it and most of the time, the assistant and the vet were in the next room to check the samples in a microscope. I could understand what they said and they weren't sure of the kind of bacterias they were seeing.

And Kiwi was nervous and hissy but I was there to talk to her.

I am angry because they didn't really check Kiwi ! :banghead: :angry:

The vet (who were obviously (sp?) nervous to examine a hedgie) wanted to listen to her heart. The assistant has the REALLY BRIGHT (I am being sarcastic here) to touch Kiwi with gloves you could wear to check a crocodile !

I said to her, in a very polite way : "excuse me but I don't think it is a good idea to put gloves, Kiwi will be just more nervous". And she said "that's the way we works with hedgehogs !."

So Kiwi balls thightly for 5 minutes, so I suggested the vet to put Kiwi in a little plate with some water. Like that, she would unball. So she took, without my permisson the little pigloo of Kiwi and put some water in it. I touch the water : it was ICY COLD !!!! :angry: I tell the vet : "excuse me but it is icy cold and it is dangerous to put Kiwi in that..." And she firmly tell me : "excuse me but there is 3 people in the waiting who wanted for their appointement". F**** b*****.

Kiwi still was in a very thigh ball. And the doctor didn't try to relax her, barely touch her, didn't check her heart, nose, eyes, ears NOTHING !!!! And they had the nerve to charge me 44 plus taxs for that !!!!

(sigh) I am so angry. I understand my little Kiwi for acting the way she acts. I am angry because of that INCOMPETENT vet. Someone here on this forum tell me that she were kind of incompetent and she had kills 2 of her chins. Now, I believe her !

The problem is that there is only one vet who see hedgies here. The nearest is at almost 250 km from here !!!!

So I was right, Kiwi is sick but they aren't really sure of what she have. They tell me that they think it is a bacteria like Salmonella. :( . So Kiwi have to take a medication call ANTIROBE for 10 ten / 2 times a day. Is it dangerous for her to take that if it is the wrong diagnostic ?

She's sick. That is why her little eyes were sad and why she didn't play in her wheel. :(

And you, please, tell me ! What do you think of all that ?

[Love4Hedgies]

Aw poor Kiwi! Sounds like she had an awful time at the vet. I hate ignorant vets!! The first time I took Zoe in the vet didn't know what to do! I switched vets though and this one is so knowledgeable and patient it's great.

Is there any other vets around that you could possible take her to? It's kind of scary to give a hedgie medicine and they are not even positive that is what it is. Poor Kiwi :(

I guess my only recommendation would be try to get a second opinion. I'm sorry you had such a bad vet expierence Julie!

Take care and let us know what happens.

[Lauren]

(sigh) I am so angry. I understand my little Kiwi for acting the way she acts. I am angry because of that INCOMPETENT vet. Someone here on this forum tell me that she were kind of incompetent and she had kills 2 of her chins. Now, I believe her !

First off, if you heard that your vet that you take Kiwi to killed two of her chins and that she was kind of imcompetent, there would be no way that I would want to subject my hedgehog to that vet!!!

I would find a new vet to take care of your hedgehog. If your saying that she's the only vet that takes care of hedgehogs, try to find another one. What if something really bad happens, how will you take care of Kiwi? If the vet didn't do a good job, from what you said they really didn't seem like they did, then I wouldn't take her there anymore, just a waste of your money with no problem solved. Since your so far away from any vets, you really need to think if having a hedgehog is right for you. Im not trying to be negative or tell you to give your hedgehog away, just stating that your hedgehog needs to have medical attention if she gets hurt or becomes very ill. If you cant provide her that, then you might need to re think some things. Hopefully there is another vet around you that will see hedgehogs.

[Ginger]

Thanks for your support Love4Hedgies.

It is really complicated to go see another vet. Lauren, please, try to understand me. There is only ONE vet in my region who can "take care" of hedgehogs. It is a big ride (250km) to see the nearest, and I don't have a car, so, I have to rent one and it is very expensive. I actually don't work a lot and will be out of work at the end of december. But I know Kiwi is one of my best friend and want to take care of her.

Total bill of today was 86 $ and the vet just check her poo !

(sigh) !

[Nancy]

Hi Julie
There is only one exotics vet in my area and she is wonderful. There is another one who has seen hedgehogs and has no problem seeing them, just not a great deal of experience.
There are a couple of others that would gladly see a hedgehog and are willing to do reasearch on them before the visit and say they would do everything they can to help.

In your case, perhaps there is a vet nearby that might not have hh experience but would be willing to learn. Really many small animal illness are the same and any vet could do a fecal test, check heart rates, listen to lungs etc.

I can see how someone not used to hedgehog quills could be intimidated but why didn't they have you hold her and slip the stethiscope under her so the vet could listen. They also could have given her a bit of gas to knock her out for a minute or so to examine her if she wasn't co-operating. It just sounds like the vet didn't want to be bothered.

Poor Kiwi and poor you. What an awful experience. :(

Talk to some of your local vets especially ones that see guinea pigs, bunnies, rats etc. Talk to the vet themselves, office staff can be idiots sometimes. See if someone is willing to see her.

Hedgie hugs to you both. :)

[Ginger]

Thanks Teasels Mom ! :)

[Changlingsea]

URGENT! Make sure if you are given an antibiotic that you also get a solution that promotes good bacteria! Otherwise, the antibiotic will kill all the flora in the intestines, including stuff that the hedgie needs! Also, she may be experiencing a food allergy or irritable bowel syndrome, which an antibiotic won't help. (Not a vet but I would highly recommend getting a syringe without a needle and giving Kiwi extra water that way.)

I have had a similar experience with a vet and my hedgie, Aleena (Aleena was bleeding from her anus at the time). Basically take a deep breath and start calling every single vet in your area. Ask if they'll look at a hedgehog or if they could recommend someone. Ask if they'd be willing to learn hedgehog medicine.

I know your frustration. I drive 1 1/2 hours to my hedgie vet but I wouldn't trust anyone else.

Good luck

[kikat]

Oh you poor thing! Since you live in Ohio, I cant necessarily recomend my vet to you, considering the I live in Eureka, Missouri. I dont Yet have a hedgie yet, and I dont want to sound like I olny came hear to ask this. The quills of a hedgie look very shar, are they? If so can they draw blood? Now I have to go, I have homework

[Moose]

First, big hedge hugs to you and Kiwi! I've been in your situation so I understand completely. You feel so helpless and angry. I think Teasels mom gave great advice. There are many exotic vets even in big cities that have no experience with hedgehogs. Every other kind of avian and exotic animals but not hedgies. :( I was lucky enough to finally find a vet that was understanding and somewhat knowledgeable BUT at the same time responsible enough to own up that she doesn't know everything about them. She even gave me a list of doctors who are more experienced and even have great surgical experiences in case my hedgie needed something more serious done. *knock on wood* I would definitely contact all the vets nearby and ask them whether they are willing to see hedgehogs (like TM said, willing to research about them) and ask for referrals. Most vets will be happy to give you referrals if they are not able to see HH or any other animals. If and when you do give her antibiotics, you also need to give her acidophilous along with antibiotics or plain yogurt so she'll have good bacteria in her system, as mentioned by Changelingsea. Good luck to you both!

[hedgewood]

OMG Ginger, I am so sorry you had to go through that. You must have been so angry with the vet.

Poor KIWI. Try to research the antibiotic, I know there are some that hedgehogs can not take or it will kill them. Also try giving her some yogurt every other night, as she will need the bacteria from the yogurt.

Good Luck with everything.

I know this sounds rediculous, but if you have a courier mail in your area, maybe you could send some fecies to the vet that is 230km away for testing, then they could get the results and send the appropriate meds back to you. I would hope that if you have same day mail or overnight delivery, and you kept the fecies in a ziploc bag, they would still be fresh enough for testing.

Good Luck